They look the same - the Japanese have a remarkable way of staying youthful. They sound the same - we were laughing at old jokes and memories within minutes. And they all have the same generous hearts as before. I am really lucky to know them and still be connected to them.
I was here on vacation 10 years ago and we all came together for a reunion then too. For many of them, yesterday was the first time to see each since that last lunch. It is amazing how well we all fall back into our old patterns. There are the same jokes, the same targets for teasing and the same stories recounted from different perspectives. We all had very different experiences with GEOS. The native English teachers were definitely treated better and paid more than the local Japanese teachers. I knew this at the time, but more details always come out during these reunion sessions. As with any work experience, there are people who can work with the system and those that can't, or more likely don't see the need to compromise their time for a job they don't agree with. Yesterday we had people who had stayed with the company for 13 years, right down to someone that moved on after three months.
In reliving some of the stories and hearing about other successes after GEOS it was a good reminder for me that what I am doing this year is maybe unusual, but bound to leave a new appreciation for all the work I have done in the past. My resume has a lot of variety in it - from door-to-door encyclopedia sales person (I am not kidding - I did that in Australia for 6 weeks) to bartender to English teacher to Alliance Director. I haven't always appreciated every job I had - some were just a clock to be punched - but I have always had great people to work with. I am still in contact with many people whom I grinded out working hours with. They made the jobs we had to do more than just tolerable. But more importantly they added so much to my views of the world.
In leaving Rogers after 10 years, I was again struck by how little I missed the actual work but how deeply I miss the people that made the time there more enjoyable. I don't know the difference between colleague and friend. In my experience the first generally leads to the second.
So to Kimiko, Taeko, Tomoko, Kyoko, Yoko and Yasuko, I thank you for reminding me that it is not really the work you do, but the people who show up everyday along side you that make it worthwhile. 
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5 comments:
Glad to hear that you are alive and well!! Have a great time in Japan and remember -- you'll only regret the things you DON'T eat!! :)
Watch out for volcanoes!
Great to read your find -outs according to friends/ collega`s ( Dutch word ) even a "change" of perspective, right the first week of your World Tour.
Your find outs ( no idea if this word exist ?)will make all of us think about new vieuws on matters of importance in life !!
This is where it is all about!
I have to completely agree with your assessment of collegues vs. friends. I have found over the years that the friends I spend the most time with outside of work, tend to also be people I met through my work. Whether they are day to day collegues, or work aquaintences who I just struck up a 'connection' with, my life is greatly enriched by them. The greatest friends I have however (regardless of how I met them) are the ones who I can pick up with right where we left off, whether the last time we talked was last week, or 20 years ago.
Now, please, please let us all know how you are fairing with the recent volcano activity. When it hit the news here in the States I immediately thought of you. Let us know you're ok?
As your former colleague...and hopefully now friend, I definitley concur with your musings :) Glad to hear you're not hiding out in some kind of volanco sheltar. Kind of reminds me of the SARS scare in TO - talk about the media blowing things out of proportion. Safe travels!
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